Apparatus for removing ink from a printing plate



April 29, 1958 R. w. FERGUSON 2,332,285

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING INK FROM A PRINTING PLATE Filed April 2. 1954 sSheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

R065? m FERGUSM kw ALA April 29; 1958 R. w. FERGUSON 2,832,286

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING INK FROM A PRINTING PLATE Filed April 2, 1954INVENTOR.

R065? 14/ FA'WGUSUA/ April 29, 1958 R. w. FERGUSON 2,832,286

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING INK FROM A PRINTING PLATE Filed April 2, 1954 6Sheets-Sheet 3 April 29; 1958 R. w. FERGUSON.

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING INK FROM A PRINTING PLATE Filed April 2, 1954 6Sheets-Sheet 4 m m@ NE April 29, 1958 R. w. FERGUSON 2,832,286

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING INK FROM A PRINTING PLATE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 FiledApril 2, 1954 A 'I N VEN TOR. 600 m F56U50N Arm/24w April 29, 1958 R. w.FERGUSON APPARATUS FOR REMOVING INK FROM A PRINTING PLATE Filed April 2,1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. Edd 5e 14/, FZ/PGVJU/V EM 4 AL niteStates APPARATUS FER REMDVHNG INK FRDM A HHNTHNG PLATE Application April2, 1954 Serial No. 420,625

12 Claims. (Ci. Nilidi?) This invention relates to apparatus forremoving ink from a printing plate. More specifically, it relates toapparatus mounted on a printing press for removing ink from the raisedportions of an engraved intaglio printing plate after each inking andbefore each printing impression. The particular apparatus illustrated isintended for use on a rotary cylinder press, and in connection withengraved steel plates, and certain features of the invention are ofespecial utility in connection with such apparatus and plates.

Printing plates such as those used in steel engraving work, when mountedon a press, depart from true cylindrical surface on the average aboutfive to ten thousandths of an inch. Exceptional plates may havedepartures as great as twenty thousandths of an inch.

It has been a conventional practice in connect-ion with 'such plates toremove the ink by rubbing the raised portions of the plate first with aburlap strip, which removes most of the ink and then with a strip ofcrepe paper, which removes the remainder of the ink. That practice,while effective, is wasteful of material, particularly burlap, which isexpensive, and which cannot be economically cleaned and re-used.

It has been proposed toutilize, in place of the burlap strip, a doctorblade or scraper running against the surface of the plate and removingmost of the ink. Since such blades tend to scrape and groove the plate,it has also been proposed to use a roller running against the plate totake up the ink therefrom, and a doctor blade running against the rollerto scrape the ink off it.

The doctor blade mechanisms of the prior art have not been completelysatisfactory, because of the difiiculty in maintaining a good cleaningcontact between the blade or roller and the plate without wearing orscratching the plate. Specifically, difficulty has been encountered inadjusting the positions of the blade and roller to maintain goodcleaning conditions. It is desirable from time to time to clean theblade and roller, especially when changing from one color ink toanother. Difficulty has also been encountered with the prior artstructures in connection with this cleaning operation, particularly inthat a thorough cleaning requires that the blade and roller be removedfrom their operating positions. If so removed, a new setting of theadjusting mechanism is required when the blade and roller are returnedto their operating positions.

An object of the present invention is to provide improved apparatus forcleaning ink from a printing plate.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved doctor bladeapparatus for removing excess ink from the raised portions of anintaglio printing plate.

A further object is to provide improved ink removing apparatus includinga yieldable-surfaced roller which runs against the printing plate toremove ink therefrom, a hard surfaced roller which runs against theyieldable-surfaced roller to remove ink therefrom, and a doctor bladewhich ice scrapes the surface of the hard surfaced roller to remove theink therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved rollerstructure for removing ink from an intaglio printing plate.

Another object is to provide, in apparatus of the type described,improved mechanism for adjusting the positions of the various rollersand of the doctor blade.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved mechanism forquickly releasing the rollers and doctor blade from their operatingpositions to positions wherein they are accessible for cleaning. Afurther object is to provide such a quick release mechanism which may beoperated without disturbing the adjusted setting of the rollers andblade.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved quick releasemechanism so that the doctor blade may be quickly removed forreplacement.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention are attained, in theapparatus described herein, by providing a rubber surfaced roller whichruns against the printing plate, and a steel roller which runs againstthe rubber surfaced roller and a doctor blade in scraping engagementwith the steel roller.

After passing the rubber roller, the printing plate is rubbed clean by acrepe paper strip running over two successive spaced pads contoured toconform with the printing plate.

The rubber roller is driven in the same direction as the printing plate,but at a slower linear speed, a speed of 50% to 90% of the plate speedbeing preferred. The steel roller is driven in the opposite direction tothe rubber roller and at a slower speed, a speed of from 25% to of therubber roller speed being preferred.

The rubber roller is constructed with a sponge rubber core and an outersheath of tougher, more wear resistant material. The sponge rubber corepermits the outer sheath to move toward and away from the printing plateto accommodate variations in the plate contour.

The rubber roller is mounted on a shaft journaled in a bearing blockwhich is adjustable toward and away from the printing plate. Means isprovided for moving the block quickly toward and away from the plate topermit cleaning of the rubber roller. This quick moving mechanismoperates without changing the adjusted position of the block withrespect to the plate, i. e., so that the rubber roller may be moved awayfrom the plate, cleaned and moved back again without disturbing its-adjusted position.

The chromium piated steel roller running in contact with the rubberroller is mounted on a shaft journaled in a second bearing block and thesecond bearing block is mounted on the first block through a suitablemechanism so that the two blocks move together during adjustment ormovement of the first biock. This mechanism includes means for adjustingthe relative positions of the two blocks, and a linkage operable torelease the second block quickly to a cleaning position wherein the tworollers are separated without disturbing the adjustment. An extension onthe second block serves as a. mount for the doctor blade and includesmeans for adjusting the doctor blade angularly and linearly with respectto the steel roller. A quick release mechanism is also provided for thedoctor blade so that it may be separated from the steel roller forcleaning without disturbing the latter adjustments.

The steel and rubber rollers are driven at fixed speeds through suitablegearing. The adjustment mechanism for both rollers is so constructedthat during adjustment the points of contacts of the gears travel alongthe pitch circles of the gears, thereby avoiding introduction of lostmotion and slack in the gear train.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent froma consideration of the following specification and claims, takentogether with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view, taken from the feeder side,

of a cylinder press equipped with ink removing apparatus constructed inaccordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevational viewof the doctor blade mechanism in the ink removing apparatus of Fig. 1,certain covering parts in Fig. 1 having been removed to illustrate thegear train in detail;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line IIIIII of Fig.2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

. Fig. 4'is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line IV-IV of Fig.3, looking in the direction or the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line V-V of Fig. 4, lookingin the direction of the arrows, with certain parts broken away;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken partly in elevation and partly insection along the line VIVI of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of thearrows, With some parts broken away and others omitted;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view taken along the line VII- VII of Fig. 6,looking in the direction of the arrows, and illustrating a detail of themechanism;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line VIII- VIII of Fig. 6,looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view taken along the line IX-- IX of Fig. 3,looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view taken along the line X-X of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line XI-XI of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a sectional View taken along the line XI XII of Fig. 9;

Fig. 13 is a plan view of one part of the mechanism appearing in Fig.12;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary view, similar to a portion of Fig. 3,illustrating certain of the parts in a different position;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken on the line XVXV of Fig.3;

Fig. 16 is a sectional view, taken generally on the line XVI-XVI of Fig.15, with certain parts broken away, and

Fig. 17 is a sectional view taken on the line XVII XVII of Fig. 12.

Printing from engraved intaglio plates is accomplished by forming theplates with shallow recesses below the plate surface. These recesseshave the contours of the letters or other material to be printed. Ink isapplied over the surface of the plate, commonly by means of an inkingroller, and is spread nearly uniformly over both the recessed portionsof the plate and the raised portions between the recesses. Before animpression can be made from the inked plate, the ink must be removedfrom the raised portions of the plate, so that when the paper or othersurface to be printed is brought into contact with the plate, only theink from the recessed portions of the plate will print on the paper. Thepresent invention is concerned with apparatus for removing the ink fromthe high level portions of the plate, after the plate has been inked andbefore the printing impression is made.

In the printing press illustrated in Fig. 1, a plate is prises a doctorblade apparatus generally indicated at 2, and a pair of shoes 3 and 4. Astrip of crepe paper 5 runs from a supply roll 6 over the shoe 4, thenceover an idle roller 7, over the shoe 3 and thence over guide rollers 8and 9 and a slack take-up mechanism 10 to a take-up roll The shoes 3 and4 are contoured to conform with the cylindrical contour of the printingplate as it is fastened on the cylinder 1.

The printing plate has most of its surplus ink removed by the doctorblade apparatus 2, and any ink that may remain is removed by the paperstrip 5 in cooperation with the shoes 3 and 4. Note that the paper strip5 moves in the opposite direction to the plate, and that it moves firstover the shoe 4 which is the last shoe passed by the plate.Consequently, the paper strip 1 in its fresh condition is moved intocontact with the plate when the latter is most nearly clean, so that thecleaning operation is quite complete when the plate leaves the shoe 4.

The doctor blade apparatus 2 is illustrated in detail in Figs. 2 to 13.It includes a rubber roller 12 which runs in contact with the surface ofthe printing plate 13, a steel roller 14 which runs in contact with thesurface of the rubber roller 12 and a doctor blade 75 which scrapes thesurface of the steel roller 14. Ink removed by the doctor blade dropsinto a pan 15a (Fig. 1).

While the roller 12 is referred to hereinafter for convenience ofidentification as the rubber roller, and the roller 14 is similarlyreferred to as the steel roller, it

should be understood that the invention in its broader aspects is notlimited to the use of these specific materials.

As best seen in Fig. 3, the rubber roller 12 comprises a relatively hardouter shell 12a, which may be formed, for example, of a hardwear-resistant rubber such as shore Buna N. Within the shell 12a is acore 12b of softer rubber, such as 10 shore natural cushion rubber, ofannular cross-section. The core 12b is mounted on a shaft 15. The roller14 is preferably of chromium plated steel, and is mounted on a shaft 16.

Rubber roller supporting and adjusting mechanism The shaft 15 isjournaled in a bearing block 17 slidably mounted for movement toward andaway from the path of plate 13 in a guide 18 which forms a part of theframe of the press.

The mechanism illustrated in Figs. 2 to 13 is for one side only of thepress. It should be understood that this mechanism, except for the geartrain which drives the rollers, is duplicated on the opposite side ofthe press. In order to simplify the drawings and description, for themost part, the supports and adjusting mechanisms for one end only of therollers 12 and 14 and doctor blade are shown and described. Where thereis a difference in the structures at the opposite sides of the press,that difference is specifically mentioned.

A pivot pin 19 is journaled in the block 17. A yoke 29 is rotatablymounted on the pin 19 (Fig. 4). The yoke 20 comprises an upper yoke arm20a, a lower yoke arm 20b and a pivot pin 21 journaled in and extendingbetween the ends of the yoke arms 20a and 20b.

The pivot pin 19 also extends through upper and lower shoes 22 and 23,the shoe 23 being illustrated in detail in Fig. 7. The shoe 23 rides onone side of the guide 18, and is provided at its opposite sides withflanges 23aand 23b which engage the sides of the guide 18. At one end,the shoe 23 is provided with an extension 230 which is apertured toreceive the pivot pin 19. Near its opposite end from the extension 230,the shoe 23 is provided with a laterally extending groove 23d. The shoe22. is similar in form but of the opposite hand to the shoe 23, as bestseen in Fig. 6. The extensions 23c and 220 are retained between theupper and lower yoke arms 20a and 20b and suitable recesses formed onthe bearing block 17. The shoe 22 slides on the upper side of the guideframe 18 just as the shoe 23 slides on the lower side.

Between the lower ends of the shoes 22 and.23-;is received a screw.socket 24, having flanges 24a and 24b (Fig. 6) which fit into grooves22d and 23d. The-socket 24 is provided with a central recess to receivethe head 25 of an adjusting screw 26. The screw 26 is threaded into asleeve 27 mounted for endwise slidingmovement in a cap 28 which isattached to the frame 18 by means of machine screws 29, and whichencloses the adjusting screw 26 and its cooperatin'g'parts. Theadjusting screw 26 extends through and beyond the vsIeeve27 and ionitsouter end carries a knob 30 and an index member 31 having peripheralnotches (Fig. 2")' whichcooperate with a spring finger 32 mounted on theoutside of cap 28 to hold the screw 26 against angular -n 1ovement. Anindex finger 33 is also mounted on the'IcapZS and cooperates with ascale 31a formed on the index member 31 to indicate the angular settingof the adjusting screw 26.

The sleeve 27' is keyed or otherwise held against rotation within thecap 28, and is providedalong one side with a rack 27a which cooperateswith a pinion 34 integral with a shaft 35. The rack 27aterminates'inaflat 27b,

which limits the travel of the sleevetoward the printing plate when itengages the pinion 34. h p

The mechanism just described serves to adjust the position of the rubberroller 12 with resnecfito the path of motion of the printing plate 13.This'adjustrnent is accomplished by lifting .the spring "finger .32'out' of the notch on the index member 31' and rotating the knob 30 toadvance the screw 26 with respect to the sleevej27, which is normallyheld stationary .by engagementwith pinion 34. Advancing the screw 2 '6moves the socket shoes 22 and 23 and bearing block '17 towar d or awayfrom the path of'movement of'the plate,f 'thereby adjusting shaft 15 androller 12 in'thesame manner.

A stop member 36 is threaded into the end of frame 18 to serve as amaximum limit of the adjustment of roller 12 toward the printing plate.T V The steel roller 14 and the doctor blade 75 are mounted on thebearing block 17 as described in detailbelow, and move with it towardand away from the printing plate as it is adjusted. When it is desiredto separate the roller 12 from the printing plate in order to clean it,or for other'purposes, the shaft is rotated, as by means of crank arm37,

- link 38, crank arm 38a, and hand crank 38b (Fig; 1)

in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 2 and 6, therebydriving sleeve 27 outwardly away from the printing plate and carrying inthe same direction the screw 26 and through its connecting parts thebearing block 17. The shaft 380, on which crank arm 38a and hand crank38b are fixed, extends across the press and ac'tuates similar mechanismon the opposite side, so that both ends of roller 12 are moved togethertoward or away from the printing plate. When it is desired to restorethe roller 12 to its operating position, the shaft 35 isreturned to itsnormal angular position wherein pinion 34 engages flat 27b, and therestoration is accomplished. Note that this movement of the rubberroller 12 for cleaning purposes is accomplished without disturbing thesetting of the adjusting knob 30 and index member 31, so that when thecleaning is completed, the roller 12 may be returned rapidly to itsadjusted operating position.

Steel roller supporting and adjusting mechanism The steel roller 14 ismountedfor adjustment relative to the rubber roller 12 so as to vary thecontact pressure between the two rollers. Provision is also made forquickly separating the two rollers by-a substantial distance to allowfor rapid cleaning, without disturbing the setting of the adjustingmechanism.

The shaft 16 which carries the steel roller 14 is journaled in a bearingblock 40. The bearing block 40 extends between the shoes 22 and 23 andcarries'at its outer end a pivot pin 41 which extends parallel to thepivot pins 19 and 21. A yoke 42 (Fig. 4) is rotatably mounted atitsendson the pivot pin-41. An adjusting screw 43 is journaled in thecentral part of the pivot pin 21 and is threaded into thebight of theyoke 42. The body of yoke 42 is slotted, as illustrated at 42a, and alocking screw 44 is provided to clamp the sides of slot 42a and therebyhold the adjusting screw 43 against rotation. It may be seen that byrotating the screw 43, the yoke 42 is advanced. or retracted withrespect to pivot pin 21. The yoke 42.is fixed with respect to the shaft16 of steel roller 14, and pin 21 is fixed with respect to the shaft 15of rubber relier 12, insofar as movement of those shafts toward and awayfrom the printing plate are concerned. It may therefore be seen thatadjustment of screw 43 varies the contact pressure between the rubberroller '12 and the steel roller 14. V

The central portion of the pivot pin 21 is provided with a wing 21a(Fig. 5). A handle 45 is threaded into the wing 21a. V

The handle 45 may be used to operate an overcenter linkage, whichincludes the yoke 42 and screw 43 as one link, and the yoke20'comprising upper and lower yoke arms 20:: and 20b astheother link. Inthe normal operating position of the rollers 12 and 14, the parts are inthe positions shown in Fig. 3. In this position a stop button 45::mounted on the inside of the pivot pin 21 bears against the cap 28. Thedimensions of the parts are such that the center of pivot pin 21 is thensomewhatto the left of aline drawn throughthe centers of pins 19 and 41..Byvirtue: of this arrangement, theparts tend to remain in the positionsshown, sinceasubstantial force must be appliedto squeeze therollers12and 14 together slightly, Q Hav P n. ;ar9 he es a centers Y moving thehand e .45 t t e ter ts r r n F 3, e linkage is moyed over cente andtheshaft-1S is moved away from shaft 16.. The may then be moved to aposition, such shown vin l=ig., .14. In this position the .rollers 12and141are separated to permit rapid. clea.r1ing. When the cleaningoperation is over, the parts maybe restored to their previous positionsby actuating the handle 45 in the opposite direction. Note thatoperation of handle 45 does notdisturb thesettin'g of the adjustingscrew 43. This roller separating mechanism may also be conveniently usedto separate the rollers during a relatively long period of inactivity ofthe apparatus, e. g., overnight to prevent development of flats on therubber roller.

Doctor blade support and adjusting mechanism Bearing block 40 carries onits inner end a wing 46, which terminates in a hub 47 (Figs. 3 and 10).The hub 47 is apertured to receive a shaft 48 carrying a guide block 49having formed therein a slideway 49a to receive a socket 5% whichtravels on an adjusting screw 51 journaled in an end plate 49b fastenedon the guide block 49, and rotatable by means of a knob 51a. End plate49b is slotted, as at 49c, adjacent the screw 51, and a screw 49d isprovided to force the sides of slot 49c toward one another, and therebyclamp the screw 51 against movement. The socket 50 is recessed toreceive a semi-ball 52 formed on the end of a rod 53 received in arecess in a doctor blade supporting bar 54. A spring 55 (Fig. 10) isreceived in the recess in back of the rod 53 and biases it outwardly; Apin 56 is fixed in the bar 54 and extends through a slot in the rod 53so as to limit the movement of the rod 53 inwardly and outwardly of itsrecess. The mechanism at the other end of bar 54, on the opposite sideof the press, may be similarly formed or the rod 53 at that end may befixed in the bar.

Adjustment of knob 51a shifts the doctor blade 75 toward and away fromthe roller 14, and so controls the force with which the blade engagesthe roller.

The doctor blade 75 rests on a fiat surface accurately located on thebar 54, and is clamped against that flat surface by a clamp member 57attached to the bar 54 by means of machine-screws 58.

When it is desired to remove the supporting bar 54, for

7 example, to replace the blade, it is only necessary to move the bar54' toward the socket 50, downwardly as the bar 54 appears in Fig. 10.This movement of bar 54 carries the ball 52 at the opposite end of thebar out of its socket 50 so that the whole assembly may be taken out forinspection or replacement of the .blade 75 (see Fig. 11).

There is attached to the wing 46 of the bearing block 40 a downwardlydepending plate 59 (Figs. 12 and 17). On the lower end of the plate 59is pivotally mounted an arm 60 carrying at its end an adjusting screw61. The arm 60 may be rotated between. the active position shtm'n inFig. 12, and in full lines in Fig. 17, wherein the screw 61 isunderneath and abuts against the under side of bar 54, and a retractedpositionshownin dotted lines in Fig. 17, wherein the screw 61 is movedout of the path of downward movement of the bar 54. The path of movementof the edge of bar 54 is indicated by the dotted line 54a in Fig. 17.The arm 60 is provided with abutment surfaces 601: and 60b which engagethe side of the plate 59 to limit the movement of arm 60 respectively atits active and retracted positions. The arm 60 is attached to the plate59 by means of a pin 62 which is threaded into plate 59 and is providedwith a screw slotted head on its outer end. The arm 60 is slotted, asshown at 600 in Fig. 13. arm 60 which receives the pin 62. The aperturefor pin 62 is made slightly smallerthan the pin so that the sides of theslot yieldably and frictionally engage the pin. Consequently the arm 60is fn'ctionally retained in either its active or retracted positions.

The setting of screw 61 determines the angle between the bar 54 and thesurface of the steel roller 14, thereby determining the pressure withwhich the spring steel blade 75 is forced against the surface of theroller 14.

When the arm 60 is in its retracted position, the bar 54 and the doctorblade 75 may be swung downwardly, away from roller 14, for the purposeof cleaning the blade, or the bar 54 and blade 75 may be removedcompletely, as described above, for replacement of the blade.

It should be observed that the movement of the arm 60 between itsoperating and its retracted positions does not disturb the setting ofthe screw 61, not does it disturb thesetting of screw 51.

' Roller driving mechanism The shaft carries on its outer end a gear 63,and shaft 16 carries on its outer end a gear 64. The gears 63 and 64 aredriven by a gear train best seen in Fig. 2. This gear train includesa-driving gear 65, meshing with a gear 66 which in turn drives a gear67. Gear 67 is fixed on the same shaft'68 with a gear 69. Gear 67 alsomeshes with a gear 70 which drives the gear 63 on the shaft 15 of roller12. Gear 69 meshes with a gear 71 which drives the gear 64 on the shaft16 of roller 14. The gears are driven from the same prime mover whichdrives the cylinder 1 of the press. It is important, for good operationof the doctor blade mechanism, that the rubber roller 12 move in thesame direction as the printing plate 13, but at a slower speed. Thelinear speed of the roller 12 at its point of contact with the plateshould be from 50 to 90% of the plate speed. The steel roller 14 at itspoint of contact with the rubber roller 12 moves in the oppositedirection to the rubber roller and at a linear speed equal to to 27% ofthe rubber roller speed.

Best results have been secured by drivingthe rubber roller at a linearsurface speed of 76.6% of the plate surface speed and by driving thesteel roller at a linear surface speed of 35.6% of the rubber rollersurface speed.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention,other modifications thereof will readily occur to those skilled in theart and I therefore intend my invention to be limited only by theappended claims.

The slot extends inwardly from the end of I claim:

1. Apparatus for removing ink from'a printing plate, comprising a firstroller having a surface of yieldable material running in contact withsaid plate to remove therefrom a substantial proportion of the inkthereon, non-rotating bearing means for said roller, means for adjustingsaid non-rotating bearing means through a first predetermined range ofpositions toward and away from the path of movement of the plate to varythe contact pressure between the roller and the plate, a second rollerhaving a surface of hard material running in contact with saidyieldable-surfaced roller and effective to remove therefrom asubstantial proportion of the ink thereon,

second non-rotating bearing means for said hard surfaced roller, meansfixed to the non-rotating bearing means for the first roller formovement therewith and supporting the second non-rotating bearing meansfor the second roller, means in said supporting means for adjusting thenon-rotating bearing means for the second roller through a secondpredetermined range of positions toward and away from the first rollerto vary the contact pressure between the rollers without disturbing thecontact pressure between the first roller and the plate, and means insaid supporting means for moving the non-rotating bearing means for saidsecond roller from said second range of positions to a positionsubstantially outside said range without disturbing the setting ofeither of said adjusting means. r

2. 'Apparatus for removing the ink from a printing plate, as defined inclaim 1, including driving means for each of said rollers comprising,for each roller, a shaft supporting the roller, a driven gear fixed onthe shaft, and a driving gear mounted for rotation about a stationaryaxis and mating with the driven gear, the non-rotating bearing means foreach roller supporting the respective shafts; each said adjusting meansbeing effective to move its associated bearing means and shaft along apath such that the point of contact between its associated gears movessubstantially along the pitch line of the driving gear.

3. In ink transferring apparatus, first and second rollers runningtogether to transfer ink from one to the other, first and secondparallel shafts, each supporting one of said rollers, first and secondbearing means for said shafts, each said bearing means comprising anonrotating bearing member, a first yoke pivoted On one of said bearingmembers for rotation about a pivot axis perpendicular to the planedefined by the axes of said shafts and spanning the other bearingmember, a pivot pin extending through said first yoke at the end thereofremote from said one bearing member, and parallel to said pivot axis, asecond yoke pivoted on the other of said bearing members for rotationabout a second pivot axis parallel to the pivot axis of the first yoke,said second yoke extending from said second pivot axis toward the pivotpin, a screw member journaled in said pivot pin and threaded in saidsecond yoke and elfcctive upon rotation to shift said second yoke withrespect to said first yoke and thereby to shift one of said bearingmembers with respect to the other along a straight path and to adjustthe contact pressure between said rollers, said pivot pin beingshiftable about the pivot axis of the first yoke between a firstposition wherein said yokes lie in substantially the same plane and therollers are in contact, and a second position wherein the yokes lie indifferent planes and the rollers are separated, and means for shiftingsaid pivot pin and thereby shifting said one bearing member along saidstraight path to move said rollers in and out of contact withoutdisturbing the position of said screw member.

4. Ink transferring apparatus as defined in claim 3, in which said firstand second positions of the pivot pin are located on opposite sides ofthe line of centers of said axes, so that the pressure between saidrollers is increased as the pivot pin passes said line of centers, andsaid pivot pin is held locked in its first position by the over-centeraction of said yokes.

5. Ink removing apparatus, comprising a roller from which ink is to beremoved, a rotatable shaft supporting said roller, a doctor blade forscraping engagement with said roller to remove ink therefrom, bearingmeans for said roller supporting shaft comprising a non-rotating bearingmember, clamp means for supporting said doc: tor blade, pivot meansmounted on said bearing member for supporting said clamp means forrotation about an axis parallel to the axis of said roller, a swingablearm mounted on said bearing member and rotatable between an activeposition in the path of rotatation of said clamp means and a retractedposition spaced from said path, means for locking said arm in either ofits positions, and a stop member adjustably mounted on said arm andeffective when said arm is in its active position to limit the angularmovement of said clamp means and thereby to establish the angularposition of the doctor blade with respect to the roller.

6. Ink removing apparatus as defined in claim 5, including means in saidpivot means for adjusting the position of said pivot axis toward andaway from said roller.

7. Ink transferring apparatus, comprising two cylindrical members havingink receiving surfaces, bearing means supporting said members forrotation about parallel axes with said surfaces in contact to transferink between the surfaces, means for adjusting the bearing means for oneof said members through a limited range of positions toward and awayfrom the axis of the other member to vary the contact pressure betweenthe members, common driving means for rotating said members atpredetermined relative speeds, said driving means comprising, a drivengear fixed to said one member for rotation therewith, a driving gearconnected to said other member for concurrent rotation therewith andmounted for rotation about a stationary axis parallel to the axes ofsaid members and laterally offset from the plane containing the axes ofsaid members by an amount substantially equal to the sum of the radii ofthe pitch circles of the driving and driven gears, said driving gearthereby meshing with said driven gear, said adjusting means beingeffective to move said one member and said driven gear so as to shiftthe axis thereof along said plane, so that, for said limited range ofpositions, the point of Contact between the gears moves substantiallyalong the pitch line of the driving gear and substantially no lostmotion is introduced between the gears by the adjustment.

8. Ink transferring apparatus as defined in claim 7, in which one ofsaid cylindrical members is a printing plate and the other is a rollerhaving a surface of yieldable material adapted upon contact with saidplate to remove therefrom a substantial proportion of the ink thereon.

9. Ink transferring apparatus as defined in claim 7, in which one ofsaid cylindrical members is a roller having a surface of yieldablematerial and the other is a roller having a surface of hard material andadapted upon contact with said yieldable-surfaced roller to removetherefrom a substantial proportion of the ink thereon.

10. Apparatus for removing ink from a printing plate comprising a rollerhaving a surface of yieldable material running in contact with saidplate to remove therefrom a substantial proportion of the ink thereon,means to adjust the roller through a first predetermined range ofpositions toward and away from the plate to vary the contact pressurebetween the plate and the roller, means for mov- 1'0 ing the rollerbetween said range of positions where it engages the plate and aretracted position spaced from said range without disturbing the settingof said contact pressure adjusting means, a roller having a surface ofhard material running in contact with said yieldable surfaced roller andeffective to remove therefrom a substantial proportion of the inkthereon, means to adjust the hard surfaced roller through a secondpredetermined range of positions toward and away from the yieldablesurfaced roller to vary the contact pressure between the rollers, meansfor moving the hard surfaced roller between said second range ofpositions where it engages the yieldable surfaced roller and a retractedposition spaced from said second range without disturbing the setting ofthe hard surfaced roller adjusting means and without moving theyieldable surfaced roller, and means for removing ink from the surfaceof the hard surfaced roller.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10 for removing ink from a printingplate in which the means to adjust the contact pressure between theplate and the roller does not affect the contact pressure between theyieldable surfaced and hard surfaced rollers, and in which the means toadjust the contact pressures between the rollers does not affect thecontact pressure between the plate and the yieldable surfaced roller.

12. Apparatus for removing ink from a printing plate,

comprising a first roller having a surface of yieldable material runningin contact with said plate to remove therefrom a substantial proportionof the ink thereon, nonrotating bearing means for said roller, means foradjusting said non-rotating bearing means through a first predeterminedrange of positions toward and away from the path of movement of theplate to vary the contact pressure between the roller and the plate, asecond roller having a surface of hard material running in contact withsaid yieldable surfaced roller and effective to remove therefrom asubstantial proportion of the ink thereon, second nonrotating bearingmeans for said hard surfaced roller, means fixed to the non-rotatingbearing means for the first roller for movement therewith and supportingthe second non-rotating bearing means for the second roller, means insaid supporting means for adjusting the nonrotating bearing means forthe second roller through a second predetermined range of positionstoward and away from the first roller to vary the contact pressurebetween the rollers without disturbing the contact pressure between thefirst roller and the plate, and means in said supporting means formoving the non-rotating bearing means for said first roller from saidfirst range of positions to a position substantially outside said rangewithout disturbing the setting of either of said adjusting means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS634,658 Brinkworth Oct. 10, 1899 952,060 Wood Mar. 15, 1910 1,468,530Voorhis Sept. 18, 1923 1,975,681 Brawn Oct. 2, 1934 2,258,653Klingelfuss Oct. 14, 1941 2,405,795 Luehrs Aug. 13, 1946 2,585,617Battey Feb. 12, 1952 2,625,878 Baumgartner Ian. 20, 1953 2,659,305 GioriNov. 17, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 335,026 Great Britain Sept. 18, 1930544,480 Great Britain Apr. 15, 1942

